Let's Talk About Gambling Etiquette

Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.

regarding play at the BJ tables - prob the most important rule is the "Rule of F's" - NEVER split Fours, Fives, or Faces... you're almost guaranteed to get yourself a verbal thrashing at the table from one of the other players.

Just remember that if you're ever unsure of what to do in a situation, feel free to ask the dealer or other players at the table. The dealer will almost always offer his/her advice because remember - they want you to win about as much as you want to win (winning = tips).

With regards to your 4-5 hands and leave strategy, while its somewhat unorthodox and may be frowned upon by few, it is your money so feel free to do with it what you please.

Glad to hear you are having fun playing BJ... next step: get those dice in your hand and learn how to play craps! There is no more fun environment at a casino than when your on the craps table and the shooter gets hot...

Regarding the "four hands and leave" strategy - one drawback I can see is if you have a players card and are wanting to be rated. It's going to be hard for the pit boss to keep track of you if you keep moving around. Or at least it would seem that way to me.

Here's a question - if I am winning a lot at blackjack, I sometimes take some of my chips and put them in my purse simply to keep myself from losing all my winnings. When I get ready to get up I get them out and cash them out at the table as usual; but I have them out and ready to go when I get up - it's not like I'm holding up the table while I dig through that bottomless pit. One time another player saw me putting the chips in my purse and he told me it was "bad etiquette" to do so. What do y'all think?

1- Is it okay to just tip like 5 bucks and then not tip for the next few drink deliveries? I typically do 1/2 tips every round, but sometimes I just want to pay all my tips up front. Is this a stupid approach?

2- Who should I be tipping that I am not tipping? I tip servers/dealers (I only tip dealers if I walk away when I'm up, though). That's it. Should I tip cashiers?

I will sit at a table, play four hands and then leave the table. I do this pretty regularly. If I'm hot, I'll play maybe 20 hands and then walk away. I switch tables constantly. Is this rude?

I also try to keep fellow players at the table in mind by not hitting on things like 15/16 if the dealers showing a 5 and the next guy has 5+6 or something. Should I avoid these considerations and just play my game, screw everyone else?

1. You don't know when you're losing your cocktail waitress to a shift change. That 5 buck tip up front might be the only drink your server brings, and then when you don't tip the second server (because you've paid "up front), that might be the last drink you get. Dollar chips/bills are never in short supply. Stash a few aside and use that as your tip budget, and tip per drink.

2. I occasionally tip cashiers, but only because I'm kinda like you -- I'm a hit-and-run gambler on video poker machines -- double up/hit a jackpot and cash out. So if I find myself making frequent trips to the cage, and the same person is helping me out, I'll slide him/her a few bucks (because I'm obviously winning).

3. Hit-and-run at BJ is OK, but in the old days (ie, before ShuffleMaster), I once forced some poor dealer to put together a six-deck shoe, then left after three hands (forcing her to take all the cards out of the shoe and reshuffle for the next player). Most casinos don't allow mid-shoe entries nowadays anyway.

4. As mentioned here, play basic strategy and to hell with everyone else. In all likelihood, no one will give you grief (although there are a couple of basic strategy plays, like hitting soft 18 vs. a dealer 9 or better, that will raise an eyebrow), but you'll also lose with peace of mind. I never feel remorse for hitting hard 16 and busting vs. a dealer 8, only to have her turn up a 7 and then bust. If anyone asks for your .02, give them basic strategy. That said, I'm a little more forceful in my opinion if the player asking me is at third base (the last spot before the dealer). They say it makes no difference long-term, but short-term is what I'm worried about.

Regarding the "four hands and leave" strategy - one drawback I can see is if you have a players card and are wanting to be rated. It's going to be hard for the pit boss to keep track of you if you keep moving around. Or at least it would seem that way to me.

Here's a question - if I am winning a lot at blackjack, I sometimes take some of my chips and put them in my purse simply to keep myself from losing all my winnings. When I get ready to get up I get them out and cash them out at the table as usual; but I have them out and ready to go when I get up - it's not like I'm holding up the table while I dig through that bottomless pit. One time another player saw me putting the chips in my purse and he told me it was "bad etiquette" to do so. What do y'all think?

One player's "bad etiquette" is along the lines to the drawback you give for being a hit-and-run player. If I'm being rated and I'm winning, I want the pit to know. The more you win, the better/more generous the pit is with comps. But stashing chips is only a real issue in poker, where it's illegal. At any other table game, just roll your eyes at such nonsense.

Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.